Tinubu expresses confidence in Lagos International Financial Centre – Sanwo-Olu

2026-02-23 - 18:37

By Olasunkanmi Akoni Lagos/ Cambridge, UK – President Bola Tinubu has expressed strong confidence and pride in the proposed Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC), Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has disclosed. Sanwo-Olu made the revelation on Sunday during a dinner held in honour of delegates attending the Nigeria Foreign Direct Investment Training Programme at the Moller Institute, University of Cambridge, England. Organised at the behest of the LIFC by TheCityUK and funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the training aims to equip Nigerian officials and stakeholders with global best practices in investment and financial management. In his remarks, the governor, who also serves as Chairman of the Lagos International Financial Centre Council, said President Tinubu had personally engaged with the project and showed keen interest. “President Tinubu was very excited when I spoke with him for almost one hour yesterday. He is expecting a high-level memo from us to ventilate his thought process. He wants to take leadership and ownership of the project, which we all can expect,” Sanwo-Olu said. The governor emphasized that the LIFC is not about any individual or region but about positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global financial space. “We should be proud that, under his leadership, if we get this—which we will by God’s grace—we will reach the final line. It is about the country and how we use this platform to show the world that we are serious,” he added. Sanwo-Olu also lauded the commitment of major stakeholders, including top officials of the Federal Government and Lagos State Government, members of the National Assembly, regulatory agencies, international organisations, and EnterpriseNGR. Co-Chairman of the LIFC Council, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, expressed optimism about the project’s success, citing the calibre and unity of both public and private sector stakeholders. “Over the last few days, they have been encouraging us to think big and beyond conventional limits. It is very motivating for all of us in the private sector,” he said. Participants in the high-level training at the University of Cambridge include Senators Tokunbo Abiru, Adamu Aliero, Sadiq Umar Abubakar, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, CEO of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Ms. Aisha Rimi, representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other senior government officials. The programme is part of ongoing efforts to ensure that the LIFC becomes a globally competitive financial hub, enhancing Nigeria’s capacity to attract foreign direct investment and strengthen its financial ecosystem.